Pumpkins have always been a big part of celebrating Halloween, from creepy grinning Jack O'Lanterns to spiced lattes. But if you're hungry for a new way to throw a Halloween party--one that doesn't involve blindfolds and peeled grapes--pumpkins are even more essential.

Since pumpkin recipes can skew savory or sweet, Halloween is the perfect time to serve up an all-pumpkin menu that's surprisingly varied but consistently delicious. Here's how.

Life has a habit of throwing wrenches into our plans, and how we react determines our future path. For example, when life gave Adam Leja lemons -- he was badly injured in a car crash and lost his chance to play college baseball -- he squeezed them into pure spring water and made Lémonesse, a new beverage that's taking root in his hometown of Chicago.

The driver of the car that hit Leja's vehicle head-on was drunk, and that started him thinking about the lack of classy nonalcoholic options to accompany dinner at a high-end restaurant.

"Lémonesse is lemon water, not lemonade," Leja stresses. "There are no sweeteners, calories, or chemicals of any kind. It's made with hand-picked organic lemons and natural spring water. Everyone is using artificial flavors and chemicals in their beverages -- we stay true to the simplicity of the drink so many love: lemons and water."

Back in the day, baby showers were intended as a way to celebrate an imminent birth -- and allow other women to share wisdom and lessons on the art of becoming a mother. Now, baby showers have gotten all modern, it's not uncommon for them be co-ed affairs and the emphasis can be more on the mother of the child, rather than the baby itself.

Kristin Donnelly is a Brooklyn-based food writer and author of the forthcoming cookbook, The Modern Potluck. She is also the cofounder of Stewart & Claire, an all-natural line of lip balms.

While the iconic American summer hot dog is always delicious with mustard (or sauerkraut or ketchup if that's your persuasion), it's actually a great salty, meaty canvas for all kinds of condiments. For a recent summer party, we pulled inspiration from around the world and set out 12 different hot dog toppings, including a spicy Thai chili relish to a caraway-flecked antioxidant-rich slaw. Seems un-American to mess with the classics, you say? Nah. The only thing more American than a hot dog is innovating on a hot dog.

Here's a dilemma I struggled with for a long time: I would never show up empty handed to a summer cookout but I don't always have time to prepare a side dish or dessert. Bringing a bottle of wine or a 12-pack of beer is always appreciated, but I'm always trying to think about what else I can bring that will complement what's already being served or will take care of any holes in the menu.

Why should burgers have all the fun? While hot dogs are stars at ballparks, they're second-class citizens in backyards across the country -- shoved off to the side of the grill and served as an afterthought.

It's time to recognize the greatness of the humble hot dog and elevate it to the centerpiece status it deserves. We've got you covered with easy tips for putting together an amazing spread, so you can throw an easy and elegant hot dog party.

Stay tuned to Epicurious, because later this week we'll reveal a guide to creative topping ideas and our taste test picks for the best store-bought hot dogs.

This is not an atypical text message from food festival doyenne Caryl Chinn, who recently joined sports and entertainment marketing firm Octagon as vice president of its new culinary division: "Are you free Sunday? Barbara got a pound of caviar and we're chowing down!"

While they say people who work at Ben & Jerry's don't eat ice cream, throwing this kind of crazy dinner party is what Chinn enjoys doing on her days off. It's the food-world version of Dre Day every day, with ballers like Chinn's meat-master pal Ed Murphy, who will wake up early on a Saturday and decide that barbecuing pork shoulder for 12 hours is the perfect way to spend his morning, afternoon and evening. Not surprisingly, Murphy, GM of Hollywood's Dolby Theatre, is often in charge of the proteins at these dinner parties.

These days, Chinn, whose recent credits include being executive director of Coastal Luxury Management's LA festival, often criss-crosses the country to develop events for Octagon. But when she's home in LA, she's sending out the most coveted invites in town, for 20-person gatherings much more exclusive and delicious than even the awards season parties where many members of Chinn's culinary club have cooked.

At last night's Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala celebrating the Charles James: Beyond Fashion exhibition at the new Anna Wintour Costume Center, celebs including Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham, Jessica Alba, Blake Lively, Emmy Rossum, and more dressed up in their red carpet finest and may have possibly even eaten food.

There are two types of people in this world. Those who, when they spontaneously invite friends over for drinks, seem to just manifest a fancy cheese plate -- probably one of those slate ones where you write all the cheese names in chalk -- and, like, twelve different kinds of olives into being.

"Try the fig spread," they might urge you, not blinking.

Then there are those, who, when in the same situation, are like, "Oh, are you guys hungry? I could run to the bodega." Which is also a valid life choice, we think! That's why we chatted with sommelier Jordan Salcito, Beverage Director of Momofuku, about the best corner-store-snack and wine pairings. (We knew a woman who works alongside the inventors of duck sausage tacos and cereal milk ice cream had to be down with unconventional combos.)

(Jordan Salcito, photo c/o Jordan Matter)

So, you have our (and Jordan's) full permission to serve up glasses of Gruner Veltliner alongside a heaping bowl of Cool Ranch Doritos at your next shindig. And if anyone gives you the side-eye, just be like, "Aromatically, this wine has a slight herbaceous tarragon note -- it really contributes depth and freshness along with each Dorito bite, don't you agree?" ::hair flip::